Houzz TV: Let’s Go Island Hopping

Always a popular gathering space, the kitchen island plays a vital role for many households. From stools to countertops to lighting above, the possible combinations are endless. Here’s a collection of some of our favorite kitchen islands with plenty of decorating inspiration.

I hung up my ballet toe shoes years ago. If not, then I would gladly have a kitchen island where I could pirouette between the sink and the stove. As it is, I used this arrangement when visiting my daughter. Before long I was getting a headache and motion sickness from spinning from the sink to the stove. Now if my island could have a dishwasher, then a sink then some drawers then my stove top or oven, then more drawers all in a row and all facing out to the backyard then I would go for it. But I have yet to see this style of island yet.

I must be getting old, but with the exception of maybe 5 of the islands, I wouldn't want these in my home. I currently am trying to find a design for an island in my home. I want it for storage, overflow, prep and or serving. I don't need extra seating. I want it for cooking, not entertaining. Sounds simple.

Those oversized pendant lights in #46 look like the stainless steel washer drums that come out of washing machines. I was thinking about repurposing them into light fixtures if we got a house we wanted that had a huge kitchen. So I see my great idea has been taken, LOL! We didn't get the house so I didn't get to do it anyway.

#8 came closest to what I am hoping for in my "Dream House" - I like the furniture look with storage facing out of the kitchen, and a dining table nearby. I want to put special dishware in mine, so what I am looking for is an old department store display case at a height that will hide the mess behind it!

I love the concept in the #2 kitchen with open shelving for storing dishes. I'm vertically challenged at 5 ft. All I can reach is the bottom shelf without a step stool so that island would be a blessing to me. I also loved the #25 large island. I would not have that kind of room in my home, but it is certainly appealing.

Can't keep up with the sticky dust that accumulates on my kitchen fan blades...then I see 2 crystal chandeliers in one of the photos. Forget lusting after the kitchen designs...I want the housekeeper who has to maintain those!

#4 - favorite. I told my cousin that what appeals to me in furniture are things that don't block the light - low backs to chairs, openness between chair bottoms and the floor, etc. She realized that appealed to her too, so instead of an island she put a wood table in that was being disposed of at her hubby's work place, and had her son replace the legs to make it counter height. Looks great, and can be moved as needed. I like #4 as it has that sort of concept: openness below the counter top. Along those lines I recently moved my mom's sofa from being in the middle of the room, dividing L/R from D/R and moved it along a wall, opening up the space. It's amazing how much brighter it is in that space without that large piece of furniture blocking the light flow. Just a thought to ponder of an impact of those large constructed island pieces...

I wish that it would have included more small islands. I have a long narrow kitchen and I want an island, but all of these ideas would have been way too large. I need something closer to a typical counter top width. <sigh>

I am in the process of designing our kitchen reno with a large island. Although this article and accompanying photographs was partially useful, I would have much preferred photos of the islands from both sides and/or an aerial view vs. all of the descriptives about the stools.

Many great examples! My favorite is #4, wow, love that curve! One thing I will say is look at the difference between those with plastic or metal stools compared to the classy and comfortable upholstered chairs. Get rid of those plastic and metal torture tools!!!!

I want to respond to Simone. I have a narrow kitchen and I used a side table, the kind you would put behind a couch and used it for base for the island. I then put a grante top that matched my counters. The end result was fabulous (30in X 5ft) . My kitchen has white cabnets and the base of the island is a dark wood. The table I used as the island base had two drawers in it and open underneath with a shelf towards the bottom. Great for open storage. Here are some pics as we remodled.

Fun to see so many creative designs. I guess you are not featuring average-size kitchens. Nonetheless, I mentally plunked myself down in each of these examples to imagine sharing a meal while perched on a bar stool. I am not fond of many of these; they seem to be uncomfortable for sitting for any length of time. and if lined up horizontally there cannot be eye contact to encourage conversation. Maybe the cell phones are out instead or the cook is holding court from the other side. Rounded edges of many of the islands reduce the hazard of a sharp 'in-counter.'

I have 2 houses - each has an island in the kitchen. In my main house, we live on the stools at the island. It's taken the place of the kitchen table and we only use the dining room for special meals. But in my weekend house where there is an open kitchen/dining/living space, we never use the stools at the island. In fact, I took them away and put an open bookcase in the kneehole area. Much more functional since the dining table is so close and anyone who wants to talk to me while I'm cooking can sit at the table. (But, frankly, I do not like an audience while I cook so I tend to discourage it.) But my big issue is that I don't like the noise from the kitchen and the view of the clutter into the kitchen from the rest of the living space. We can hear the refrigerator running when we're watching television and I have to clean up as I go (not a bad policy, I know) so we don't have to look at the detritus of cooking while we're eating. And I really do cook so there is always something, whether it's dishes drying in the rack, compost waiting to be taken outside etc., there's always something that shouldn't be on display. I didn't see this issue addressed at all by any of these islands. I would like to find a way to add 12" to the existing outer foot of countertop somehow - storage units or something on top of the counter at least until I re-do the island completely. Has anyone seen anything that might work for this? Something about 12 inches deep and 12 inches high. Have you had to deal with this situation somehow? Thanks

When I designed my house I had to stick to my guns to have the kitchen as its own separate domain. Architect and builder both wanted to see in the plan what has become the standard open space kitchen - no way. We have family issues with the noise generated in the kitchen, and regardless of how neat one tries to be, I do not like to have the cooking field of battle exposed for all to see while in the creative mood. I'm of a certain age where I do not want to have an audience unless they are actually participating in the prep and I do not want the kitchen to serve as a room people pass through on their way to somewhere else in the house. Cooking smells and especially any airborne particulate are bad for fine paintings, upholstery and wood surfaces. An adjacent comfy breakfast nook and separate formal dining space, both with fantastic different views make two wonderful dining spaces without having to be right on top of me in the kitchen. I don't want to be a slave to my house - it has to work for me!

The kitchen sizes you show are not realistic for average earners who own a house in their price range in CA. Only once in a great while does Houzz show "real life" bathrooms or kitchen and then it's a Houzz "special." These fabulous kitchen islands cannot inspire me at all, since most of them would fill up the floor space in my kitchen in its entirety. Can you come down to earth more often?

Thanks for the great ideas for an island. We took out our island because it was too small. I know want a free standing island. We have put a counter height there for now and have enjoyed sitting in the kitchen to eat. I need a little more storage though. I am also planning to reface or paint the cabinets so I am still deciding on what I want. Thanks for the great ideas. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Some interesting designs, many are very traditional and some look like they belong in an office building, not much from the point of creativity... but they weren't built by artists. I built this island for an old house in Maplewood NJ which was doing a complete remodel with mahogany cabinets and concrete counter-tops. The 8' long island is primarily solid mahogany on the base with a solid Jarrah Counter-top. The Jarrah is in-layed with stainless and copper square rod, fossilized coral, ammonite, and petrified wood. The coral is back lit from below and glows reddish orange. The Petrified wood had an inclusion in the center and instead of filling it, I manufactured a small brass vase with a pin frog inside. When the vase is attached below the hole in the Petrified Oak slab it can hold rigid stemmed flowers... as if they were growing up through the hole in the rock/petrified wood. The entire island is wired for power, data and phone from the sides and below, all hidden in the legs so that the slate floor is visible below.

Think outside the rectangle! This is very functional AND more comfortable to sit around for conversation (rather than lining up those stools in a straight line). Plus no corners to bump and bruise your hip... Stone is granite, but not the speckly kind. By Jane Klein, ASID - Jane Klein Interiors LLC

Forgive me, but most of these by the descriptions seem to be more about the chairs than the islands themselves. What if I don't want chairs because I don't want people in the kitchen while I'm cooking? A few of these did catch my eye - the more woodsy, rustic or farmhouse styles; but I'd like to see islands that are pretty AND designed for workflow, not entertaining.

I seriously have never seen so many kitchens, where the stove and the sink is not on the same side. It is so unpractical to cook. I have never seen anything like this in Europe, wonder why this is different in the US? Maybe nobody cooks here actually?

when I see a lot of modern remodels together like this picture grouping, I can't help but feel how impersonal they are and how little they reflect the character of the user as well as the home. The LA kitchen with that red island has personality. It's my favorite.

37 is my favorite with 25 running a close second. I like the others that have book shelves, storage space, and wine racks, but any of that can be built in to any of the styles. 37 is so rich in color and finish and the stools fit under the counter.

So many beautiful islands but #23, those floors(!), is the real showstopper! I have a friend with beautiful painted hardwood flooring like this in his kitchen and I briefly considered it for my recent reno, but it requires some serious talent to do it right. And #23 doesn't disappoint!

I absolutely love two tiered island kitchens with a lower wood tier that accommodates standard dining chairs! I find high backed chairs really uncomfortable. The mix of stone and wood is a great look for me so #3 is a winner! Other choices would be #26; #24; #68 and #70. #61 has great natural lighting and a view to die for!

I've got a horrible feeling I'll be outnumbered here, there's not one that I want!

I'm just about to get a new kitchen and I like the concrete worktops but nearly all the islands have either a sink or a hob, to be surrounded by washing up or cooking on an island isn't my idea if it's also to be used as a casual eating area.

Children and hobs don't go together and I'd hate to sit up to dirty or clean washing up.

@Tina Pocock, I agree about the hob in the island. If you really use your hob, you want it backed up to a wall. That way the excess grease and splatters are trapped against the wall, where you can wipe them up. If the hob is in an island, the particles are much more likely to float into the air and get throughout the whole kitchen area.

I think islands are a great solution for certain kitchens, but wanting and island just for an island's sake is wrong. You should only put in an island because it's the best solution for your kitchen work flow.

Very few original ideas to draw from here. What is the big hot dog thing? It's shape would make working or sitting at the island uncomfortable, at best. (I did get a chuckle that the designer's name is Wurster.)

I'm surprised to still see so many heavy tops and square, sharp corners in kitchen islands. Boo!

So many of these islands have a lot of stools, so they're obviously planned for entertainment or big families? But then a majority have the stove/cooking area right across the way, so you're sitting there looking at an appliance or someone's back at that appliance.How's that for entertainment!

I prefer the ones that allow the sitters to look out a window. After all, the majority of the time, an island is used by family members having breakfast or lunch, and a view to the world outside is much more appealing than expensive cabinetry and appliances.

It is really hard to pick but I choose #25. I don't like to eat in sight of the cooking, but this kitchen is gorgeous all over. I do love the low counter heights, as a short person I wish I could have justified lowering the work tops in our remodel but feared the hit to resale value.

As shown here, the island can be a fun--play area, but as I like to tell our clients who come into our Northwest Cabinet Shop, be careful to not make the island stand out so much so that it has no fit or flow with the rest of the cabinetry or the house. It is best to keep a thread of similarity so that it won't compete or challenge the space, but instead compliment the space.

Wow! What a range of styles and ideas. To each his own, as this collection clearly shows. I did save a couple of inspiration photos for the kitchen redo my husband and I will be starting soon. Thanks for all the info.

terrijharrison - I LOVE what you did. We built our house last year and have a small island -- only big enough for a bit of storage and to house a small wine cooler. The kitchen is not large and I'm torn on whether to keep the island. I feel I would miss the surface space, but it's tight between the island and fridge and island and dishwasher. Your idea might work!

I forgot to mention that my island is free standing and can be moved if necessary. I also have an electrical outlet in the floor so that I can use electrical appliances on the island without cords getting in the way.

After looking at all of these I have to say, Kitchen #1 is my favorite. Simple, compact, design. We're building a home in Eastern Washington State, USA soon. I've been using Houzz to note all of my ideas and collaborating with our Designer. It's fantastic. The look I'm going after is one I'm calling, Modern rustic industrial farmhouse. So #1 best suits that need. I'd change out the seating, and the pendants. It's not too country, too industrial, or overdone. We're planning a large Island with seating. The home will have a lot of outdoor living space, so there will also be a pass-through from kitchen to the outside. I love to cook, and am only putting a prep sink in the island, so when I and my family are preparing food, we can be socializing with others who are sitting around the Island. Now where can I find a recycled soapstone sink?

I think a lot of thephotos are lovely; however, they are also "island dreaming" since many people don't have as much room as is required for several of thoseislands. When I designed our newkitchen, I had to keep the existing island footprint. I added a higher second-tier for visual interestand also to accommodate a 6'4" husband who used the higher tier forkneading bread dough. My island contains hidden electrical outlets, a double waste-basket, several drawers, and can also accommodate stools(which I don't use because they clutter the area).

I have a small kitchen so many of these islands would not work for me...I am having new cabinets built and a new island....I am wondering about an overhang so to have bar stools.....Very stressful decision......

If you are placing a prep (not sitting) island in the kitchen, then allow a minimum of 42 inches of space between the cabinets on the perimeter to the cabinets on the island. This will allow for 36-39 inches between the opposing countertops (since they will overhang the cabinets). If you have a sitting island, then allow an extra 24 inches on the stool side. That means that a U shape kitchen with a prep island should be at least 13 feet wide to allow for comfortable walking all around. In our typical Southern California kitchens, I often have to be the "bearer of bad news" for homeowners who have their heart set on an island, and don't have the needed clearance.

I love the idea about using the sofa table as a narrow base for the island. Another option for a narrow prep island is to use wall cabinets placed on a short pedestal. 30 inch tall wall cabinets placed on a pedestal made of 2x6s will end up being a perfect countertop height. Be sure to anchor a narrow island to the floor since it will be top heavy, and may wobble as you are working on it.

I'm what I'd describe as a typical man; well maybe not quite so typical as I like to look at the articles on Houzz and read many of the comments. This is the first article that I've felt compelled to comment on and not the article so much as the pictures, since that's all I looked at on this one. Never in my life have I seen so much garbage displayed so beautifully. A few of these kitchens looked very nice. Very few. Most I'd consider dietary supplements as they'd invoke a loss of appetite for trying to eat anything in them. I realize that "decorating" is a matter of taste more than anything else and I'm not a decorator.

I also realize that these examples all represent high dollar investments by people who in my opinion have more dollars than sense to spend. Hardly anything shown displays any sense of practicality. Does anyone actually cook in these kitchens? I'm not much of a cook myself (my best cooking is picking up the tab at the restaurant) but I use the standard what you don't mess up, you don't have to clean up. Virtually all of these kitchens appear to require a full time staff just to keep them looking "nice" more so than a cook to use them. All I can say is it just makes me more thankful to be a member of "the other, other half", and the Manure Movers Union cap my dear old dad left me together with the $175 million.

All this kitchen talk has made me hungry for some red beans and fried black eyed peas like my grandmother used to make. I'll get off my soap box now and go put my gardeners cap back on and mow the back 40. Yes, I know my place isn't here. Thanks for your time and God bless.

This article was disappointing. I was very excited to open it up when I saw "89 kitchen islands", as I'm in the process of designing one for our kitchen and the task is proving daunting. I'd like to see an article that really shows ranges and sinks integrated, as well as the drawers/doors/shelves and internal organizational options - a real "what's possible" article would be so great. This was just a bunch of color combos - much more basic than I was expecting.

There was a book that came out in 1995 called 100 Great Ideas for Islands. It has floorplans and perspectives. Although some of the ideas are dated, the book shows all sides of the various islands. I think it is out of print now, but you might be able to find it online or in a used bookstore.

Here are few pictures of a recently sold home with multi-function dual-height island with cook book library cabinet, microwave, prep sink, warming oven, pull-out trash drawer, bar area tile toe kick and both drawer and door cabinet space.

These designs are for huge showy spaces; I suspect they satisfy the desires of designers rather than to the clients who are saddled with having to navigate them. What about the challenge of inserting a functional island in a small 50s cape kitchen?

What a terrific variety of kitchens are represented here! I was able to add to several of my idea books- stellar examples into "Lighting" and "Finishes" and others, and many more into folders "Despise," and "Design Flaws". I'm even inspired to create a new one titled "Fall over Laughing or Gag?" I found williamwright's review pretty amusing. I just need to know more about fried black eyed peas.

I have enjoyed following this thread! I had posted a couple of my own island pictures way in the beginning of these comments. This has been alive so long that I have actually just completed another kitchen which probably has my most interesting island to date. Apologies for the non-pro photo:

This huge island is a combo of exotic wood veneer and concrete. The top is 4" thick around the outer edge. Brad Jenkins Inc

Wide variety of looks here but not many that really grabbed me. My two favorites were Kitchens 6 and 32 and my least favorite was Kitchen 53. That island looked like a body organ; not a good look at all. Very uncomfortable feeling there.

These are all beautiful, but I have a few issues with islands. The worst is the glorified galley where all of the working areas/appliances are lined up so that the walking path makes it necessary to do-si-do anyone else in the kitchen and open appliances are a roadblock. The next worst is the island in between the refrigerator and the sink, making you walk in circles. I also dislike a sink or cooktop in the island because I like to have seating there where my kids can safely and cleanly do homework. I prefer a nice U shaped functional kitchen, this is hard to find with an island.

Great way to easily see what styles, colors, materials appeal to you. The video format allows just enough time for a "gut" reaction to each kitchen; so in addition to getting island ideas, you can get an idea of what kitchen style makes you feel good. There's something here for everyone.

smdh...what is #53?? lolI love a good island, and have a large one in our kitchen that several people told us would be too big & too tall. It is the most used place in our home. It's perfect. Not half as big as most of these!! wow!

Loved all the white cabinets I had in my dream kitchen - with all the fingernail picks around the knobs and handles as well as all the dark dirt spots from the oil in people's skin that collected dust and grease within a very few months - and all the relaxing hours trying to clean them - Not!! A designers dream - real users not so much. Fortunately I insisted on real maple doors and boxes - had them stripped down and stained as soon as I could. Think before you fall for designers' ideas - they very seldom think through the maintenance required to keep their designs looking good.

Great variety in these kitchens. There is a a lot of color and anyone who likes island should fine something here to like. If you don't like chairs leave them out. This article was meant to inspire and it did! Thank you.

MIne will not have seating at the island but I do have a breakfast bar with seating so the island can be used for prep.

terrijharrison your island looks great. Wonderful idea. Did you put poly on the wood at all as aprotectand tor just leave it as is?

Our kitchen island was made from an island cabinet from an unfinished wood furniture store. My husband custom made the top for it. You could put any kind of top on it, like Formic or marble or granite, etc. We love it.

I love the fact that this is such a diverse selection of islands and kitchens! I think it is great that it shows so much variety of styles, colors, sizes, designs, etc. Thank you to all the people who took the pics to allow us to see this great "tour" of islands. Thank you to Houzz for doing this great video tour. I feel bad for the people who only see what they deem as a negative.

Wonderful composite of various style islands, colors, etc. My favorite is one I've discovered over time of using and visiting zillions of kitchens of my friends, relatives and of course, my homes including an extremely small apt kitchen in which I ended up hanging a lot of stuff - more than pots/pans! That was fun.

I am most comfortable in an L shaped medium/small kitchen with a large window. Sink at the window, ovens on the wall with a gap space to the frig next to the pantry. I prefer an island over a kitchen eat-in/work table. I like a cook top on the island with tons of storage both open and closed for all sorts of stuff. I like two chairs since I like to sit when I'm doing detailed stuff in cooking. Also a great place to perch when making my lists!

It helps to know what one likes in a island & kitchen in order to design one. None of what Houzz showed looked like my island, but I did see bits and pieces in many of them that I used in mine. Size of my Island? 3' x 6' topped with granite using rounded edging. I designed it 21 years ago and still love it!

A couple folks sent me a message about my kitchen. I uploaded a couple shots on another thread. Here is a decent shot of my entire kitchen. It's not very big but both my husband (deceased) and I cooked at the same time without a problem thanks to the island. I don't have a dishwasher and the upper cabinet of the ovens and above the refrig are basically empty. My blender stays on the counter 24/7 as I use it 1-4 times daily for all sorts of stuff from smoothies to soups to frozen yogurt and salsas. I do have open shelving below the drawer to the right of the sink for odds and ends as well as a shelf at end of my island below the cookbooks. I have two electrical plugs on the island - one at each end and 20th century lighting below the open shelves on the wall (florescent). Kitchen is 21 years old and I only replaced the refrigerator because friend needed one for his house, so I gave him my side/side Kitchen Aid that was 25 years old and it's still going strong.

From the delightful to the boring to the plain ridiculous! The boat-shaped island wins the award for most ridiculous, closely followed by the "amoeba-shaped" island, with the enormous "hot dog" of no. 53 a close third. The bar stools in 72. (in the photo array or second in the video) are gorgeous and for once actually look comfortable.

Totally island dreaming! So many beautiful designs (as well as several that aren't my taste) however, where the heck are all these enormous kitchens?? I'm in SoCal in a 2,550 sq ft home built in the early 80's. When we gutted and remodeled in 2011 the entire room is only 13' by 9'. I'm pretty sure some of these islands are larger than that! :)